Sri Lanka has high rainfall variability over short distances which make accurate predictions difficult, says Yann Chemin, designer of the device and scientist with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo.

Each station is powered by a single solar panel and three of them are already active in the north of the country. IWMI will produce 10 more in partnership with the Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum, says Tanuja Ariyananda, the forum’s director.

The devices give farmers the reliable, up-to-date data they need to adapt to unpredictable weather, improve rainwater harvesting — a source of clean water in the country’s dry zone — or alert the authorities to drain out reservoirs in anticipation of heavy rains.

P.K.S Mahanama, professor of town and country planning at the faculty of architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, says that the devices could work to sensitise farmers to climate change and the need for adaptation.

Ariyananda and Mahanama call for the devices to be installed in schools to raise awareness among students as well as prepare the buildings to double up as emergency shelters.